Jay Leno's 1907 White Steam Car | Behind the Scenes

Find out why Jay Leno's 1907 White Steam Car is such a handful.
#jaylenosgarage #jayleno #carlover #classiccars #steamcar

[@jimchik]

“I don’t usually rank my explosions…”. 😂

[@Robothut]

So this was from 2007, Jay looked great as does the car. Nice to see Jay could not stay in his own lane even back then. LOL

[@gerryhamel1529]

Ironic, Jay talking about burns to his arms as a meter of expertise. As always very informative and entertaining. Thank you to all concerned.

[@Mrbfgray]

Getting torched on occasion part of the fun.

[@frankshrew2852]

“A good steam man has no eyebrows” 😂

[@stur.7502]

These old steamers are so cool! What an invention they were!

[@keithsgarage5831]

I'm having a little trouble believing what I am seeing here. A 1907 White steam car driving among regular traffic in LA. Making good speed too! It is amazing to see this. Thank you Jay and crew!

[@Mrbfgray]

Did he get torched this time??

[@tedallegri5371]

Another great one Mr Leno! Love learning about these steam cars!

[@douglascorley6630]

Not just sitting in a museum it gets to enjoy life

[@pnotuner1]

But it has so much pressure

[@parentsbasement7734]

That's why I like the day so much, he drives everything he owns. I heard him say one time if you can afford these cars you can afford to fix them, they were built to go not sit behind glass.

[@vanderhogie]

I have an White sewing machine that my dad willed me. My sister-in-law currently is using it and has done quite a bit of marine upholstery.

[@gearmeister]

"Steam explosions aren't as bad as gas explosions" says Leno "I don't rank my explosions" he said...(DG) 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@elosogonzalez8739]

When Bernard stands back, ya know that's dangerous! As much as I love old cars, I'll leave this for the real men.

[@_CAT-lg4sr]

What an elegant, refined beast it is ! Jay has WAY more courage than I've got.

[@rolandyap8640]

Thank you Dennis. Thank you Jay Love your channel 👍✌

[@janjulien8502]

Dennis, Jay and steam..greatest combo ever!

[@nobodynoone2500]

Bro has a death grip on that fire extinguisher lmao.

[@MikeSouzaProjects]

Wow... What an adventure it must have been to drive a car like that back in the day. Managing fire, water, pressure and temperature. The complexity is surprising. Thanks for sharing Jay. What an incredible experience it must be to learn and operate a steam car.

[@haroldbirge6881]

Jay Leno's the man

[@stevelee5724]

7 minutes in Jays under the vehicle and says ' Its not a good gateway vehicle ' ! Thats why we love Jay , he'll state the obv and its bloody funny !love you mate. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@pisstinpete4700]

Matches and gasoline,always a great combination

[@rustythedusty4478]

I always love these videos. Always an intresting car on camera!

[@gord307]

Amazing technology for 1907, I wonder where steam cars would be today if the technology continued to develop? Excellent to see another Jay and Dennis video 👍🏻

[@gord307]

@@Jack_Russell_Brown Thanks for that - good info 👍🏻

[@pisstinpete4700]

Well,for one thing Jay would have no face left

[@mikelavery1262]

Started building sewing machines, cars & switches to building trucks under White motor company.

[@bigiron8831]

Man that steamer moved right along..👍

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Yes it did!

[@KentuckyColonel]

I think Jay is a true American Icon.. have tons of respect for him but if I am ever in Burbank I am going to watch out! This dude can't drive a lick!!!

[@monarch1651]

" 1:45 " Jay's little joke here didn't age too well, or perhaps it aged a bit too well.

[@adamwiggins9865]

He is very learned by now

[@UmmYeahOk]

3:43 even the cameraman knew, and wanted the audience to know that yes, after repeating it several times, Dennis does in fact have the fire extinguisher. It’s almost as if they knew that someday this car would get the best of Jay. And considering how many views the White videos get on this channel, you can clearly understand why they keep reuploading it.

[@luisestebanr6311]

oh man, what an adventure, is the taste of danger what makes it better XD

[@janinedunkel7605]

Wow! Jay still has dark in his hair, as does Dennis. That's been a minute ago.

[@dgreenbluet]

2007

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Very cool, would love to drive that around! 🙂 👍

[@tmorton922]

Just the craziest thing. I would be terrified at first!

[@simonevans343]

Leno is such a nice chap

[@j.m.8025]

I miss you two together...

[@jamesbooth3360]

As a guy who has always liked cars and mechanical devices, I just want to thank you for preserving and running these cars. Also, for sharing this experience with me. I just noticed I have been intensely concentrating and smiling the whole time. THANKS!

[@billdurant2007]

there was no getting to work on time in that thing, lol

[@Drive4YourLifeAZ]

That will run even after a EMP blast. lol😊

[@mattigower1479]

Awesome, totally spellbinding. It runs so smooth and so quiet, and it rolls along in the regular traffic just like it belongs there, and why not. So I wonder . . ., if there will be a working EV car, 100 years from now. Somehow, it seems unlikely, they are just not built to last and they (manufacturers) do not want you servicing them to keep them running. More steam clips please, it just never gets boring.

[@twistedyogert]

Depends on how long the electronics last. Teslas are computers with wheels.

[@gerrydouce923]

Jay is the man.

[@johndyson4109]

America is the greatest country in the world in world in many ways. I'm very proud to be an American.. God Bless us everyone..

[@roykliffen9674]

17:49 Love the Volvo 245. To me a classic in its own right.

[@tomp1612]

Great episode !

[@albertseabra9226]

Another fantastic video. Amazing! Steam cars could be quite fast, although the braking system didn't appear to be very reliable. Thank you, Mr. Leno

[@tmorton922]

Brave Jay!

[@jamest.5001]

Mr. Leno is awesome 😎, I wonder if anyone hot rodded steam cars, or raced them?? A double acting two cylinder, enlarge and streamline the passages, like porting heads, make them faster, a modern stem car would be awesome, a hybrid steam/electric vehicle. With a 40-50 kwh battery, and a fairly decent motor, so there is no waiting, Regen braking, with heating coils for a load when the battery is charged to make steam, to save fuel, burn propane/ natural gas, or a blower and carburator to burn gasoline, and maybe a kerosene/diesel option, using a injector and heat plug, with ignitor, 60-80kv with 300-500ma spark at 30-120 hz, very hot sparks to ignite the fuel, run 8" bore with a 4"- 5" maybe a 3 cylinder be capable of running up to 1200° normal 700°- 850° use 1/2" stainless tubing , and a air compressor to compress air to 400+psi, use a 5speed trans, to allow very slow travel with load in 1,2,3rd gear, normally only use 3-4-5th gear, im imaging a truck, 4doors with a large 'radiator' with a 12 gallon water tank, with a 4 gallon emergency tank, use a transfer case in front of the transmission, with the steam engine connected to the transfer case, and the electric motor, allowing the steam to generate power also, also have the option to generate power for a home, using a stepdown transformer, 480v +/- to 120/240v, with a feed back to regulate the ac power output, have a large box with the transformer and current sensor and a few other goodies inside, with outlets, and a cable with 5-8 wires the 2 with 480-600v, a thermal safety , plus a 120v feed back to regulate power, and a couple current sense wires and a ground 3x 8-10ga. Wires, and 5x 18ga. Wires should be sufficient. Turning the motor speed control into a low frequency inverter, only using some logic electronics with a separate set of push pull igbt modules, meaning a 18gauge ground may not be large enough, requiring another 8-10ga. Possibly adding up to 9wires total.. if the ground also carries the temp° ground, and current ground, aswell as a safety ground, to break the circuit in case of fault, using battery power of near 600vdc and a generator output capable of charging that battery, using pwm to regulate the voltage, with a shifter on the transfer case allowing no connection, engine to motor/generator. Or Motor to transmission , engine to transmission, or both, using spur gears and dogs, a 1.75"-2" wide gear, transferring the the power with only a planetary 8:1 reduction for the motor, using a quieter gear set, being high rpm , possibly in the 20-30k rpm range, otherwise a 1:1 ratio, uding a small flywheel with multiple disc clutch, about 8"-9" with a 9.5"-10" O.D. flywheel, using tapered bearings on the hub to transmission / flywheel, to allow the hydraulic clutch to be used, with no starter ring gear required, a set old 6 hardened stainless 1/2" pins, with matching bushings hard stainless, with dry film lube, and .020" clearance, to hold the 3x 3/8" thick floating steels. To connect the flywheel to the 4clutches and pressure plate, giving the 8" clutches loads of grip! The flywheel being nearly the same diameter as the transmission, 9" should be enough, really no clutch is really required, but skill would be needed to shift while in motion. Using standard brakes for actual stopping, and parking, a small water tank with the heating element used for braking, Regen braking absorber when the battery is full. Heating the water just as it enters the boiler tubes, approx 12gsufe wall stainless tubing, 3/8"-1/2" , possibly double 1/4" tubes, with flat coils cold in at the top. Heated from the bottom, with 12-4" burners, or 8-2" gas or diesel burners, from the sides at an angle of 30°off center, with a carburetor/ injector and blower, the layered , flat coils with about 1/2" between coils, with about 1" between coils, having them offset and alternating to fit over the gap of the one below, with a 1 gallon steam ball, where the steam is collected and superheated at the top of the boiler at the outlet, with a secondary burner heating the ball with 1/2" tubes passing through it, with a 1/4" water drain, the ball id heated to near red, as the 300-400° steam enters, it is nearly doubled in temperature. And pressure greatly increased, 800° n.o.t with a peak of 1200° where the fuel is shut off, and must be manually reset and re- started, a overall safety function, with a steam turbine spinning a fan and alternator to run lights 12v normal things. and the fan to cool the steam back to water, spinning at 10k + rpm, using a planetary to drop to 1-2k, less than 4k. With steam and electric a 6klb truck should do 60 mph in 4-6seconds or less, in low gear 0-20 in 1.5 second 0-45 in 4 sec. And modified it could do 0-100 in 7 seconds roughly, or steam only 0-60 in 7-8 sec. Electric only about 5-6 sec. A lightened vehicle should be quicker by a good bit, but 100-130 miles electric only, or 400-550 miles stem only and capable of burning used oils after hot, get it hot on propane, use injectors to burn waste oils with blowers to be Shure it has enough air, The oil should have a more efficient burn! More energy! More range per gallon, sorry to ramble but wouldn't a mid 90s c1500-2500 be cool as a steam electric truck, maybe add a 1.0L V8 as an additional range extender, making about 60 HP 80 lb TQ at 6800 RPM, it would be cool just to idle around in parking lots, 8 x 125 cc engines grouped like a SBC, with the same 18436572, firing, keeping idle around 1k rpm a mini 1.0L SBC/motorcycle engine, with overhead cam, and a distributor, and intake, similar to a SBC engine, using a couple 48mm carbs roughly, with progressive linkage, dual 1.75" exhaust, with headers! That may be the coolest part of the truck, that engine would been cool on a bike! Sorry to ramble! Have a awesome day!

[@nobodynoone2500]

Some were raced, but never got popular on longer races because the size of a boiler bing enough to keep a head of steam was prohibitive in size and weight. Jay himself added bigger boilers which maintains full-power longer. I have seen optimizations for better sealing like using different oil, and rings, and valve size. I have heard of explosions from those with wet-steam systems trying to convert to dry-steam systems. The White was a dual systems iirc, with superheated dry steam in the primary, and cooler but still energetic wet steam for the secondary. There were some steam engines that stored excess energy in an expansion tank, which barring pumping losses is good "free" hybrid power. And petro is stil lthe most power per lb (energy density), but steam is more or less mehcanical regulation and mechanical focusing of that thermal energy. I wonder what a comparison of using a gas/diesel engine of compressing air vs using the same fuel to generate steam. It would all be down to efficiency at that point.

[@connieverbeck1110]

Be safe, Jay!!!

[@zinckensteel]

I imagine he will damn well wear a face shield and long sleeves when doing this sort of thing from now on. All else aside, the guy's classic car restorations and willingness to drive them are enough reason for me to want him to stick around for a while longer.

[@martinpettibone6044]

Dennis was in the hot seat!

[@BannanaTree-ed4tz]

It looks cool to have one of those cars but scary too. Looks fun to drive but complicated.

[@Manawy-uv4mz]

When it was moaning it made me think of a ship sinking

[@haroldbirge6881]

Wow ⚡Dennis Gage ⚡Bernard ⚡and Jay Leno ⚡oh yeah don't forget about the 🍀white 🍀big stars in my book😎✌️

[@tumblelake63]

Every vintage car owner needs a 'Bernard' in their backseat.

[@mrm1885]

Back in the days everyone had their own "man" to mantain the car, just like Jay have Benard.

[@erikj.2066]

Reminds me of the excitement and danger of running a gasoline blow torch.

[@Mr_Bones.]

I’m surprised Jay doesn’t use a full sleeve fireproof apron and face shield to start these cars. Yes it’s cumbersome and annoying to don, but you can clearly see how dangerous this starting process is. Safety equipment is like water; annoying when you don’t need it and the center of your solar system when you do. I was using a weed wacker yesterday and was wearing safety glasses while doing so. In Florida in June, the glasses keeps the sweat in my eyes. I was about to take them off when the wacker slings a .22 slug sized rock in to my right eye. It hit the glasses so hard my head knocked back. I probably would’ve had retina damage if I didn’t 😮‍💨

[@-Stop-it]

Now you say. I was running the hedge trimmer and not wearing glasses. I swung down, taking off the bulk of the branches and then back up trimming just a bit more when a chunk hit me square in the eye. I saw it coming, my eyelid closed and it hit - all in an instant. I was lucky, and now smarter.

[@mike.4277]

Very awesome 😎👍

[@DSC800]

Steam cars? With an open fire? That could never go badly.

[@arty8255]

You think!?

[@STho205]

It was the pilot preheater that got him...just like the cup warmer preheater kept getting out of control in this vid. It is like cooking or lighting with a Coleman gasoline lantern/stove. If you don't have good control of the pressured gasoline valve...poof.

[@oldschoolman1444]

"Its actually an enjoyable car when you're not driving crybabies around " 😅

[@luemn7691]

Pretty cool car. Those wheels remind me of beach cruiser wheels. It be cool to build a car like this with an ls engine, not an original one but one from scratch with new technology and make it inconspicuous.

[@noblenotes27]

One of your more fun videos

[@WheelerRickRambles]

This is where ‘car insurance’ was invented!

[@jeffkeech8786]

That is so cool

[@janetremsing6988]

😂I really hate burning my batacles!

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

I don't think I can see the "Little women" of the house just jupming in this to run down to the market to get groceries. But they did in that old Electric car Jay has. that was build for the little woman. great to see this in action thank you so much Jay and for shraring. ECF (from another Bay Stater!) The other end of the state.ECF

[@danielfox6907]

Dennis, if I was you, I'd wait outside.

[@bobcoats2708]

Dennis, thank you for continuing to bring back your old episodes with Jay. They are all great! How many shows have you done with Jay?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

I think there’s been something like 39 segments over the years. It was a really great time with him! Such an interesting guy with so much knowledge and such cool toys!

[@bobcoats2708]

@@MyClassicCarTV Wow! That’s amazing. Thank you, Dennis. I’m a big fan of your work and look forward to watching you for years to come.

[@stratocaster1greg]

I machined water pump shaft in Black Bess a 1905 White. Mike Erslands car.

[@retrobilly1719]

OMG ,Imagine going through that outside in Cleveland in Late November, It’s a Super Hassle in Southern California in a Climate Controlled Garage 😂

[@pivkaaa]

I can only imagine Bernard building McGiver out of an old video cassette with an episode with him and two straws:]

[@VashStarwind]

Its cool he really drove that thing around, he didnt just drive it around the block real fast and call it good

[@robertyoung8289]

They still let J play with matches? 🙄🔥

[@grandroofing1604]

Looks like the Beverly hillbillies

[@johnmcdonald5700]

J,s got this 😂

[@VashStarwind]

I can only imagine what a steam car would look like today if someone had pursued the technology as much as regular cars. They would be awesome. Tho i kinda do understand why they werent. Pretty dangerous to have two 600+ PSI of steam cars run into each other. That wouldnt be very fun.

[@vicmabus1532]

Heated seats!

[@AdvancedUSA]

While I enjoy learning about old cars - especially steam cars but I enjoy them when they belong to someone else. My ideal car has remote start (through an app on my cell phone). When I get to my car the climate control system has automatically heated or cooled the interior based on outside temperature.

[@paulnicholson1906]

At work they always told us near misses were important because if you understood what caused them you could avoid having a major incident or accident. The statistical ratio between near misses and accidents was 100 to 1. Also if I was Jay I would use heptane instead of hexane. Hexane is more toxic and more flammable.

[@thomasjj1976]

Of course, I think this is the car that Jay was later burnt under. I believe it was a 1907 White

[@shelleyking8450]

Is this the car that got him last year? Seems like foreshadowing a bit. So glad he is ok.

[@karensavarese5684]

Herkimer is quite fantastic. And, if anyone is wondering if Jay is really a hands on kinda guy, Well! Keep on burnin,,,,Izzy Strong,,,,

[@johndeere1951a]

Jay your looking good. Your face is thinner, your moving better than when I watched you months ago. Rhode Island living must agree with you. Your old home New England climate, less smog 🤣👍✌️

[@MyClassicCarTV]

This was shot back in 2006. We all looked better then.

[@kdog622]

I noted you referred to your steam cylinder oil as "600 weight". That is a misnomer, as 600 "W" is not 600 weight, but just a designator for steam cylinder oil. It is actually anywhere from 140 to 250 weight, depending on where you get it. Some Model A and Model T guys use this oil, too. You have a beautiful car!

[@Nafetitive]

Wish we could bring back production steam cars, see if modern tech can improve on White and Doble tech. The nicest modern cars are boring, in my opinion, lacking in pre-1950s styling, grace, soul, and road-feel. Maybe it's just me, but I want a car that could be driven after an apocalypse, something that doesn't rely on gasoline or the electric grid. But something with style. Speaking of which, I'm surprised Jay doesn't have a Pre-1930s British coal-fired steam Lorry. Probably wouldn't be legal to drive it in California with all the strict environmental regulations. Funny how Jay always seems to have trouble staying within his lane in every video. Every time I watch one of these videos of Jay with a White steam car, I'm reminded of how well my old White Rotary sewing machine ran: simple, but effective, bullet proof, and reliable for being over 100 years old. Still sad that I had to sell it before moving across the Country. One thing I love about old machinery/tech is that as long as they're maintained in working order, they'll last forever. Modern tech is more often than not built with planned obsolescence in mind. As soon as you buy something new you can practically hear the countdown clock ticking away.

[@brunoheggli2888]

Mindblowing,gamechanging,game over for Tesla!

[@rs6637]

dennis im with you im scared to death of the steam cars be careful jay

[@petesmitt]

1:53 'learn by burns'.. Leno is still learning; he was 56 in this video.

[@BeingMe23]

In the 1800s most cars were either EV and Steam.

[@petesmitt]

and hardly anyone used them..

[@swilleh_]

@@petesmitt cuz public transport was much than in todays america. Also people didn't care if you don't have a car and won't call you broke because of it 🤡

[@Manawy-uv4mz]

Does steam engines freeze up during the winter?

[@shable1436]

What year was this? Jay was getting around good back then, im guessing it was before he got hurt, now he walks around hunched over and neck fused, and is way less animated, even talks slower. As a matter of fact the car he was working on was a 1907 when someone blew air down into the gas line to clear it, and gas splashed on his face and the pilot light followed the liquid to his face and body. So exactly what you guys were doing here, and you had the extinguisher ready, Jay was like scoffing at you, like you don't have to be so paranoid man😂, and it turns out that's exactly what happened to him. How ironic

[@eugenex.p.3430]

Forget electric. They need to bring back steam cars.

[@Imintune...]

Seems to recover nicely from his accident.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

This was shot back in 2005 or so.

[@stevelee5724]

That White is extremely wild Jay ! 15:01

[@thepubliceye]

I'm supprised there was never a closed system steam locomotive.

[@Nubby007]

There were a few attempts but it never worked out. A lot of steam trams had them but on main line locomotives the advantage of reusing your water was negated by the loss of power

[@thepubliceye]

@@Nubby007 Modern ships, Power Plants, and submarines use closed systems. Why would there be a power loss?

[@gregorymalchuk272]

@@thepubliceye South Africa used some condensing locomotives, mostly to save water and lengthen time between water stops, which were often more frequent than coaling stops on non condensing locomotives. The reason why he he mentioned condensing being related to lower efficiency is because the limited heat transfer area on a locomotive condenser often means that the condensing pressure is actually higher than atmospheric, which hurts efficiency. Having saturated liquid feed water helps somewhat with the efficiency though and makes the penalty a bit less severe. Power stations have large cooling towers and ships have access to near infinite cooling water, so it isn't the same issue there.

[@HRH-THO-II]

This is the same car that put Jay in the burn unit for 9 days.

[@cobracharmer6178]

If this car was made in 1907, why is it only a 100yrs old? Is this an earlier taping?

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Yup. Shot back in 2006. You might notice that neither Jay or I look like that anymore.

[@cobracharmer6178]

@@MyClassicCarTV; That makes it even more interesting because you haven’t aged at all. 😀👍

[@clarencetrice4442]

the old LP GAS stoves were the same way U had 2 light pilot burner on them be 4 U the burners and steam engines U have 2 use steam engine oil and make sure the boiler is full of water 💦 😊 /😊😊 OMG 12. 1O 2O23

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

I wonder if this is the one that burned Jay last year

[@edgarbeat2851]

When I heard I instantly thought of the steam cars.

[@ericmuschlitz7619]

Wondering if this was the car he was fooling with when he torched his face?

[@mikealbright2470]

If it straightens the mustache!!!!

[@roymcmillan7826]

Is there something wrong with camera's quality or its on retro mode or something like that

[@MyClassicCarTV]

This was shot back in 2006 before HD was a thing.

[@roymcmillan7826]

@@MyClassicCarTV Oh and i thought it was new😅

[@SOSchangedme]

🔥🔥🔥🤦🏻

[@stevelee5724]

Gage ya chicken !..... lol love ya too mate ! Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

All that trouble to get the car going, lol

[@corssecurity]

Yes but if you got it hot, I'm talking about hotter than hellfire and damnation, could you get it up to 88 mp/h?

[@zinckensteel]

I've only had her up to 55 myself

[@dcliff_420_3]

First to like first to comment

[@brucemitchell5637]

Nope, I'm first! 😊

[@robertyoung8289]

I'm the first to care less.

[@robertyoung8289]

I feel cheated. No burn out?

[@brianhiles8164]

(15:10) _“[A car] so comfortable that it´s safe.“_ A car so _un_-aerodynamic that it has to _charm_ the air out of the way. *WHITE: Watering Hole Is Tragic Ending*